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HB699 • 2026

Require prescription drug coverage by health plan issuers

Require prescription drug coverage by health plan issuers

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Munira Abdullahi
Last action
Official status
As Introduced
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Require prescription drug coverage by health plan issuers

To enact section 3902.65 of the Revised Code to require prescription drug coverage by health plan issuers.

What This Bill Does

  • To enact section 3902.65 of the Revised Code to require prescription drug coverage by health plan issuers.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. Ohio Legislature

    As Introduced

Official Summary Text

To enact section 3902.65 of the Revised Code to require prescription drug coverage by health plan issuers.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
H. B. No. 699

2025-2026

Representatives Abdullahi, Lett

Cosponsors: Representatives
Piccolantonio, Rader, McNally, Brennan, Brent, Sims

To
enact section 3902.65 of the Revised Code
to
require prescription drug coverage by health plan issuers.

BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section
1.
That
section 3902.65 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec.
3902.65.
(A)
Notwithstanding section 3901.71 of the Revised Code, a health benefit
plan delivered, issued for delivery, modified, or renewed on or after
January 1, 2027, that covers prescription drugs shall cover any drug
product prescribed to treat a covered person for a disease, disorder,
or condition if all the following are met:

(1)
The drug has been approved by the United States food and drug
administration for the covered person's disease, disorder, or
condition.

(2)
The drug is recognized by either of the following for treatment of
the covered person's disease, disorder, or condition:

(a)
A prescription drug reference compendium approved by the
superintendent of insurance for the purposes of this section;

(b)
Substantially accepted peer-reviewed medical literature.

(3)
Coverage for the disease, disorder, or condition is not expressly
excluded under the plan.

(B)
The coverage required by division (A) of this section shall include
all medically necessary services associated with the administration
of the prescription drug.

(C)
A health plan issuer shall not, based on a "medical necessity"
requirement, deny coverage of a prescription drug unless the reason
for the denial is unrelated to the legal status of the drug use.

(D)
This section does not require a health benefit plan to cover either
of the following:

(1)
Experimental drugs that are not otherwise approved for treating the
covered person's disease, disorder, or condition by the United States
food and drug administration;

(2)
A drug that the United States food and drug administration has
determined to be contraindicated for treatment of the covered
person's disease, disorder, or condition.